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Sales Manager Hawkeye Hotels - 2.5 Countryside, IL Job Details Full-time From $25 an hour 8 hours ago Benefits Health insurance Dental insurance 401(k) Paid time off Vision insurance 401(k) matching Employee discount Life insurance Qualifications Customer communication Account development Business development Prospecting Sales strategy Account management Full Job Description Position Summary We are seeking a motivated, organized, and hands-on Sales Manager to support the hotel's sales efforts. This position will focus primarily on reactive sales, group coordination, account management, and converting incoming opportunities, while dedicating approximately 1-2 days per week to proactive business development within the local market. This is a hybrid Sales and Operations role. The Sales Manager will also work two scheduled Front Desk shifts per week, providing an opportunity to stay connected to hotel operations, interact directly with guests, identify potential business, and support the overall needs of the hotel. The ideal candidate is highly responsive, comfortable managing multiple leads and groups, and able to balance sales responsibilities with hotel operations. Essential Sales Responsibilities Respond promptly to all reactive hotel sales inquiries and leads, qualifying opportunities, preparing proposals, negotiating within established guidelines, and consistently following up to secure business. Manage incoming opportunities across corporate, group, government, sports, wedding, social, and other applicable market segments. Coordinate group business from initial inquiry through completion, including contracts, room blocks, pickup monitoring, client communication, and post-event follow-up. Build and maintain relationships with existing accounts to encourage repeat business and identify additional revenue opportunities. Prepare proposals, contracts, group agreements, and other sales correspondence in a timely and professional manner. Maintain accurate account, contact, activity, opportunity, and group information within the hotel's CRM and PMS systems. Ensure group blocks are accurately created and maintained within the PMS, including rates, dates, room types, routing instructions, and other necessary details. Maintain an organized group resume/event binder and communicate important group details with Front Office and hotel leadership. Monitor room blocks and pickup to identify potential wash, cutoff, and revenue opportunities. Partner with Revenue Management and hotel leadership on group pricing, need dates, occupancy opportunities, and overall revenue strategy. Participate in scheduled sales, revenue, and strategy meetings. Complete required weekly sales reports, pipeline updates, production reporting, and sales activity tracking. Proactive Sales & Business Development The Sales Manager will dedicate approximately 1-2 days per week to proactive sales activities, based on hotel needs and business levels. Prospect for new corporate, negotiated, group, government, construction, sports, and local business opportunities. Conduct outside sales calls, client visits, site tours, networking, and community outreach. Identify new business through parking lot shops, arrivals research, competitor activity, construction tracking, and local market research. Develop relationships with local businesses, event venues, meeting planners, sports organizations, healthcare organizations, colleges and universities, government agencies, and other applicable demand generators. Conduct hotel site tours and client presentations to convert prospective business. Re-engage dormant and underproducing accounts to identify new opportunities. Maintain a consistent pipeline of prospective accounts and future business opportunities. Hotel Operations Responsibilities The Sales Manager will work two scheduled Front Desk shifts each week as part of the regular work schedule. Provide professional and welcoming service to hotel guests while supporting daily Front Office operations. Review arrivals, in-house guests, and upcoming reservations to identify potential corporate accounts, groups, projects, and other sales opportunities. Assist with guest check-in/check-out, reservations, guest requests, and other Front Desk responsibilities as assigned. Use Front Desk interactions as an opportunity to capture company information and identify potential business for the hotel. Work closely with Front Office and hotel leadership to ensure groups and key accounts receive a consistent guest experience. Support hotel operations as needed while maintaining ownership of assigned sales responsibilities. Qualifications Previous hotel sales, hospitality, customer service, or Front Office experience preferred. Experience with a major hotel brand is a plus. Understanding of corporate, negotiated, group, sports, government, and transient hotel segments preferred. Strong communication, customer service, relationship-building, and follow-up skills. Ability to manage reactive leads efficiently while maintaining consistent proactive sales activity. Highly organized with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple groups and deadlines simultaneously. Comfortable working independently while collaborating with hotel leadership, Revenue Management, Front Office, and corporate sales teams. Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Word, as well as Google Docs and Google Sheets. Experience with hotel PMS and CRM/sales systems preferred. Ability to work a flexible schedule, including two scheduled Front Desk shifts per week and occasional evenings or weekends based on client or hotel needs. Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate is a sales-minded hotel professional who enjoys both client interaction and hotel operations. They are highly responsive to incoming opportunities, organized in managing groups and accounts, and comfortable getting outside the hotel to develop new business. This individual understands that successful hotel sales requires both converting incoming opportunities and consistently building relationships that generate future demand. They are equally comfortable preparing a proposal, conducting an outside sales call, giving a site tour, coordinating a group, or assisting guests at the Front Desk. Benefits 401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person

Pay:

From $25.00 per hour

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee discount Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person